Today I'll be taking a look at Atari's new Flashback 3, which, despite the name, is actually the fourth major Flashback system released. I reviewed the first Atari Flashback way back in 2004, when it was first released. Unfortunately, Legacy Engineering Group (LEG) was apparently only given 10 weeks to create the system from scratch and therefore had no choice but to rely on a NES-On-A-Chip (NOAC) to power the product. Since the goal of the Flashback was to deliver both a plug-and-play Atari 2600 and 7800 experience, this was definitely too tall of an order for what amounted to a Nintendo Entertainment System clone, particularly given the limited time to optimize the game simulations.

While the first Flashback clearly disappointed anyone remotely familiar with any of the 20 first party 2600 and 7800 games it clumsily simulated, the upside was that it sold enough for Atari to order production of a Flashback 2. This time LEG did have the time to do it right, and, while they dropped all efforts to replicate the 7800 experience, they ended up developing what amounted to an "Atari 2600-on-a-chip," whose high accuracy more than made up for the omission. Released in 2005, the Flashback 2 came with a mix of over 40 original, prototype, hacked, and homebrew Atari 2600 games. While the first Flashback was styled like a miniature 7800, the Flashback 2 was styled like a miniature Atari 2600 VCS, complete with simulated woodgrain. As a bonus, the two included joysticks were pin compatible with the originals, meaning they could be used on other systems that worked with Atari-style joysticks. This also meant that you could use original paddle controllers with the Flashback 2 to play the hidden paddle games. This was in direct contrast to the first Flashback, which merely converted its paddle games to make use of the joystick, which again, was not the way you wanted to experience those games. As a final bonus for those with the requisite skillset, the Flashback 2 could be hacked to add a cartridge port, which outside of a few relatively minor compatibility quirks, made it an ideal modern revision of the original Atari 2600 hardware, particularly since it had default composite video output rather than RF.

Somewhere in the 2006 - 2008 timeframe, LEG was working on an Atari Flashback portable, but Atari chose not to pursue its release for whatever reason (UPDATE: According to an individual familiar with the situation, LEG was also offering a Flashback 3 during that timeframe, which Atari also chose to pass on). I'm not sure of the exact details why, but instead in 2010, Atari released the Flashback 2+, which was more or less identical to the Flashback 2 (complete with latest revision of the internals), save for a handful of game swaps and some cosmetic variations. Perhaps this was some type of inventory clear-out somewhere in their supply chain or perhaps the economics of one last run of this type worked out (UPDATE: Thanks to onmode-ky for the link to the actual reason: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/156823-flashback-2-for-preorder-on-...). Whatever the details, Atari decided to go in a slightly different direction with the Flashback 3 in 2011, whose development this time was spearheaded by AtGames, with only superficial involvement from LEG (UPDATE for clarity: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/183139-flashback-3-at-e3-is-it-real...).

One of the downsides to the Flashback 2 and 2+ design for Atari was clearly the costs involved in the custom "Atari 2600-on-a-chip." AtGames gets around this by essentially leveraging emulation software-on-a-chip, which allows an off-the-shelf chip to be reprogrammed to act like an Atari 2600. While not quite as accurate as the Flashback 2/2+, the implementation is close enough where, unlike the first Flashback, paddle controllers will work on the Flashback 3 for those games that support them. The physical design of the Flashback 3 is very close to that of the Flashback 2, save for front joystick ports, omitting the b/w switch, and various cosmetic differences, such as relabeling the Reset button to Start.

Though clumsy in implementation, requiring holding both the joystick's fire button and the console select button for a few seconds (manual here, which has the usual sparse game instructions for a Flashback system), the addition of pause functionality is a nice bonus. Speaking of joysticks, the feel of both the Flashback 2 and 2+ joysticks was similar to the original, with sticks with a somewhat stiff, short throw. While of similar physical design, the joysticks included with the Flashback 3 are much looser and have a longer throw. Though I tend to err on the side of being a purist, I can't say I minded the change too much, as it seems to work really well, and of course, I can always plug in whatever Atari-style joysticks I want anyway.

Despite the inability to hack in a cartridge port, the 60 games on a plug-and-play system along with another set of Atari-compatible joysticks for those of us who still use and maintain classic systems is an excellent value proposition at a list price of just $39.99. As a bonus, a limited edition Atari poster is included, though I'm told it will change from what's included in my AtGames-supplied review unit due to licensing irregularities (UPDATE: The poster is staying as-is. It's rights-cleared.). It's not a particularly interesting looking poster as these things go, but it's still a nice bonus. With all this in mind, the Flashback 3 has the foundation of a real winner, but it all comes down to how the games play.

Unlike the previous Flashbacks that had their games accessible from categorized menus, the Flashback 3 is just one big list of games broken into consequitive pages, which some may prefer instead of trying to remember what games are in what category. As you scroll through each game title, you see a screenshot from the game, which is a nice touch, and it also clearly indicates whether a game is single or two player, which is a big help for those of us who can't remember what's what throughout 60 games.

Instead of trying to show you all 60 Atari 2600 games on the Flashback 3 that you've probably seen countless times before, I decided to pick three games from three different decades and compare them to what is shown on the Flashback 2+. Obviously this also limits me to picking three that appear on both. For instance, a good test of the Flashback 3 would have been Quadrun from 1983, which features speech and gave early releases of the Flashback 2 some trouble, but that's not included on the 3 so I can't do it. That omission is a bit odd, to say the least, and does make you wonder how capable the Flashback 3 actually is at replicating the Atari 2600 experience, so that's certainly something to keep in mind. Also, both Flashbacks caused no end of issues with my capture equipment. I tried two different types to boot. The issue is probably how some Atari games "trick" the display to see some of their effects. This translates to missing graphics in some of the captures that are present when viewed on a regular display. Nevertheless, this is something you should keep in mind with playing a Flashback 2 or greater on a newer television, that there's a chance it may not display the way it's supposed to.

The first game is the 1979 action-adventure classic, Adventure, a game that features one of the best known early Easter Eggs. As you can tell from the video, it plays well on both the 2+ and 3.

The second game is Yars' Revenge, from 1982, often cited as one of the best games for the platform. The video clearly shows that the colorful game plays well on both the 2+ and 3.

The NTSC version of Save Mary! was completed by late 1989 and scheduled for a 1990 release, with a PAL conversion completed in 1991. It too did not see release, so officially it's a prototype. Nevertheless, Save Mary! is a good example of a final generation first party Atari title, and, as you can tell from the video, plays well on both the 2+ and 3, though I did notice some variances between the two, for instance with Mary moving slower on the 3. In this case, the experience does seem better on the 2+.

As a final test, I wanted to see how the paddle games worked with real paddles. The game I chose was Atari's 1981 coin-op conversion, Super Breakout (though I did try others). I simply selected the game, unplugged joystick 1, and plugged in the paddles. Naturally, it should work much better with the paddles than with the joystick, but even trying three different sets of paddles, I just couldn't get it to respond properly. Perhaps there's some trick or some code to make it work properly, but for my tests, they didn't seem to. The paddle games are tuned nicely for the joysticks, but they still would play much better with proper paddle support. (If I find something out about better paddle support, I'll update this review.)
(UPDATE: I tried a fourth set of paddles and they work perfectly with the paddle games. You simply unplug the joystick and plug in the paddles and they work as they should. I have no idea why the other three sets did not work correctly, but I'll re-test on real hardware to make sure they didn't go bad, which is certainly possible.)

So, in the end, what do I think of the Flashback 3? My intention with this review was not to see how perfect the Flashback 3 was in terms of emulating the Atari 2600, but to see if it was noticeably different from what I remember of an Atari 2600 through normal play, and of course how well it avails itself against the recent 2+. In both regards, it avails itself well. If you can find this system for the $39.99 or less that it retails for, I say go for it if you want a nice 60 game plug-and-play Atari 2600 collection. It's a no-brainer in that regard, and you can consider the new Atari-style joysticks an additional bonus if you have a compatible console or computer lying around. If you already own a Flashback 2 or 2+, you'll need to look at the game selection to see if the handful of differences and slightly lower level of replicating the Atari 2600 experience is worth the money.

Regardless of your purchasing decision, at least none of us have to deal with another Flashback 1 type situation, and for most of us, that's good enough. Hopefully now that four of these have been released, Atari can move on from the Atari 2600 and start to leverage some of their other historical platforms, like the Atari 8-bit computer line. I won't be holding my breath, but I suppose if a similarly low cost emulator-on-a-chip situation can be implemented, there's always a small chance.

CONCLUSION:Worth buying!

(UPDATE: To access the in-game status screen, Secret Quest requires the b/w switch, which, as was mentioned in the review, is missing on the Flashback 3. There is no alternative way to access the status screen, so, quote from AtGames: "We are swapping that game out next year for the very reason you noticed.")

Comments

I actually have the Powermate and pretty much bought it in hopes of using it as a spinner. I never really had luck with it as that and mostly just used it for volume control with my Dell (it's REAL use is of course for video editing).

Before I got my MAME-based arcade machine, I bought a cased USB spinner from someone that actually works quite well (though no buttons) and has easily interchangeable knobs (even a small plastic steering wheel; I still have it mounted to a table). Really all a spinner is (at least to a PC) is a mouse that is limited to moving left and right. Popular mods used to take old mice and hack them apart to create a spinner, though I don't think that practice is popular anymore (this was in the era of PS/2 peripherals), particularly since modern mice are all optical.

I once got a "jumpy" pair of paddles working fine again by opening them up and cleaning up the contact surfaces and making sure that the contacts are more solid. It's been years since I've done it though so details are sketchy. I'd have to take one apart again to be able to describe what I did.

Thank you so much for this video and especially correcting the audio, it was much appreciated when I watched again. I actually DO want one, but I refuse to pay Ebay pricing and shipping to CANADA kills as usual, but if I ever get a chance for a decent rate I will pick it up.

Thank you so much for this video and especially correcting the audio, it was much appreciated when I watched again. I actually DO want one, but I refuse to pay Ebay pricing and shipping to CANADA kills as usual, but if I ever get a chance for a decent rate I will pick it up.

Thanks. I'll be curious if/when these go to wide release in North America (let alone Europe, where there appears to be a bit of pent up demand). Right now, it appears it's only available ABOVE list price from a few select (and small) online retailers.

Cant believe I wasted time watching this. I was laughing but not with you my friend.

You can really tell you know nothing about the atari. how about getting a real atari instead of a flashback for a start! Guess I should be glad you didnt not follow your instincts and just download an emulator and ROMs.

Adventure had the first easter egg? man do some research next time. You hear this all the time for people who know nothing, there were easter eggs way back before this. Look at wikipedia even.

"I dont know the exact details but..." that about says it all. I suggest you quit yanking your joystik and read some of them books you got.

Cant believe I wasted time watching this. I was laughing but not with you my friend.

You can really tell you know nothing about the atari. how about getting a real atari instead of a flashback for a start! Guess I should be glad you didnt not follow your instincts and just download an emulator and ROMs.

Adventure had the first easter egg? man do some research next time. You hear this all the time for people who know nothing, there were easter eggs way back before this. Look at wikipedia even.

"I dont know the exact details but..." that about says it all. I suggest you quit yanking your joystik and read some of them books you got.

Internet troll is trolling. If you were even remotely intelligent, you'd realize that I didn't say Adventure had the first Easter Egg. Read it again to see your error, but then I doubt you'd be able to comprehend it any better anyway, so you may as well not even bother. In fact, for your information, I was one of the people doing the research on the first console Easter Egg, so I know the history of the Easter Egg very well. Keep trying though to criticize our work here, maybe you'll actually come up with something applicable with enough idiotic stabs in the dark.

Oh man so funny to read crap from an obvious TROLL. Reaching in the dark much? Seriously Bill I do not know why you even entertain or put up with it, your a better man than I. So sad and typical when anonymous poster has nothing to say except negative remarks, where do these jokers even come from? As always as hard as they try they THINK they are actually making valid points and coming off witty when in face every sentence simply confirms there ignorance. I never understand (nor do I wish to) the motives or reasoning of these losers, your obviously no fan of the site or it's content, you obviously do not "get" the point of it or seem to realize the site and it's founding members have been here for years for a reason DESPITE the occasional obvious troll wasting time here making idiotic claims, threatening "you'll be sorry" or implying anything illegal is going on here. You seriously have nothing better to do? How sad and pathetic, but then, TROLLS are all about getting a reaction and reply so I guess by that definition I am falling right into your "trap" ah well wouldn't be the first time.

The fact you would even suggest Bill Get a "real" Atari shows exactly how little you actually know about him lol! Otherwise you would know Bill has at least a couple "real" Atari's among his massive collection and that he is a published author and just a little bit of an actual historian on the subject of classic games and consoles.

Anyway, sometimes I simply cannot help myself, I should know better, I certainly have seen your type multiple times before so I kick myself for even wasting my time and effort when I know full well nothing can possibly enlighten you. Ah well, you will do as you please, you certainly seem familiar as I recall a few months back this exact same type of trolling, attacks and accusations by another "anonymous" user, the faceless nameless trolls with no backbone, likely your the same person.

... it's better than a Flashback 1, but not quite as good as a Flashback 2, and has no way to load ROMs externally.

Meh...

I don't think we'll ever see a ROM-capable system from a mainstream company for various reasons, including monetization, support, and legal issues. The only circumstance that might work would be a system like the Vectrex that has had its whole original library cleared for distribution, but then why wouldn't you just include all the games on the system, then? No, unfortunately, we have to turn to the homebrew community and grey market systems to have ROM-capable consoles...

Tru Gamer, if you think Bill's video is laughable and erroneous, why waste your time posting back and forth here on AA? Save yourself all the effort of typing! Just post a response video telling us how laughable it was, and point out how stupid Bill is by saying whatever wrong things he said.

It can't be that hard. Get a webcam, aim it at yourself, make a video, and upload it to YouTube. Tell us what an idiot Bill is! Point out all his errors! Display for us your vast mastery of the subject of gaming so we may benefit! Really rip into Bill; let him have it!

Making a video might take some time and effort, but you strike me as a clutch hitter with mad leet skillz, so go get him, Boss!